Oh well, back to 'reality' of a sort.

As predicted, it was truly sad leaving Nicaragua, so I'll dwell a little bit on what I'm now missing.

The lovely Xalli hotel, with its beachside hammock and opportunities for jumping in the lake in the afternoon heat, was a fine place for my final three nights. Cheers to Rosalyn and Jonathan and all the lovely staff there for a island life experience, Although I must express a level of personal outrage for the lack of a soap dish in the shower.

Leaving through the border was easy, with neither the Nicaraguans or Costa Ricans feeling the need to make it stressful with an infamous long wait. Turns out it's more of an issue coming the other way, with the Nicaraguans fearing nefarious importations - although you should fight to get into the country in my view...

And so to Costa Rica.

Immediate differences abound. Traffic lights, established property owning class, American chain 'restaurants', toll roads and... rain. First for three weeks - not that it affected us.

And hence San Jose. Off to have a wander in a bit and to see if I'll bump into Barack Obama. Highly likely, I imagine. Weather is a chilly 24C, overcast.

Accommodation is suitably unfunky. Dull apartment with no in-room wifi - cheap mind. Oh well, assuming I can get sorted, I'll head off for the Caribbean again tomorrow. It's a holiday after all.

Ha - PiL, 'The Room I Am In' has just come on. Strangely suitable for right now. Let's hope for a bit more joy as the day progresses...

Later... ah later.

What was that about returning to reality? Only if Reality is being directed by the President of the United States of America. And 'joy'. Don't make me laugh.

As previously mentioned he's here right now and his presence means the city has ground to a halt. Completely. At one point today, in a wander around the closed capital of a FIRST WORLD CITY*, I was prevented from walking the 150m to my hotel because that little road was closed for no conceivable strategic reason other than the usual: Complete over-reaction by everyone concerned. Cue completely unnecessary 45 minute, 30C walk around the entire central area to get home.

Costa Rica may not have a standing army, but it's got a hundred types of police and the whole lot of them are standing on street corners and acting daft. More seriously, they're picking up the likes of previously mentioned Raj whenever they spot him. Hope he gets to his bus tonight.

And now... no way to get out of San Jose tomorrow without extreme amounts of mither! Wish me luck. Damn Yankees.

*With prices to match.

...and it's raining and Costa Rican beer is crap. Did you hear that San Jose? YOUR 'IMPERIAL' BEER IS RUBBISH!